Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.
1. A method of tracking movement of an eye gaze of a user, the method comprising: recording a video image of an eye of the user using a camera, the video image showing movement of a pupil of the eye; determining a starting eye gaze based on the video image of the eye, the starting eye gaze characterized by coordinates of a center of the pupil relative to a pre-calibrated origin; in response to determining the starting eye gaze: propagating a light beam directly from a light source onto the eye; detecting a speckle pattern formed on a detector by a portion of the light beam reflected by the eye, the speckle pattern being detected at a predetermined frame rate; and tracking movement of the eye gaze relative to the starting eye gaze by tracking the speckle pattern from frame to frame; determining that the eye has blinked; determining a new starting eye gaze by: recording a second video image of the eye using the camera; and determining the new starting eye gaze based on the second video image of the eye; and tracking movement of the eye gaze relative to the new starting eye gaze by: detecting a second speckle pattern formed at the detector; and tracking the second speckle pattern from frame to frame.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the light beam reflected by the eye is diffusely reflected or specular reflected by the eye.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined frame rate is greater than about 5,000 frames per second and less than about 15,000 frames per second.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the predetermined frame rate is about 10,000 frames per second.
This invention relates to high-speed imaging systems designed to capture and analyze fast-moving events with precise temporal resolution. The technology addresses the challenge of accurately recording and processing dynamic phenomena that occur at extremely high speeds, where conventional imaging systems fail to provide sufficient detail or clarity. The method involves capturing image frames at a predetermined frame rate, specifically about 10,000 frames per second, to ensure that rapid movements or transient events are resolved with high fidelity. This frame rate is optimized to balance data acquisition speed with image quality, allowing for detailed analysis of phenomena such as fluid dynamics, mechanical vibrations, or high-speed impacts. The system may include synchronization mechanisms to coordinate frame capture with external triggers or events, ensuring that critical moments are not missed. Additionally, the method may incorporate data processing techniques to enhance image clarity, reduce noise, or extract relevant features from the captured frames. The high frame rate enables the reconstruction of smooth, high-resolution temporal sequences, making it suitable for applications in scientific research, industrial inspection, and high-speed event analysis. The invention improves upon existing imaging technologies by providing a more precise and reliable means of capturing and analyzing fast-moving subjects.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined frame rate is greater than about 50 frames per second and less than about 15,000 frames per second.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein tracking the speckle pattern is performed using an optical flow algorithm.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the optical flow algorithm comprises a phase correlation algorithm.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the light beam comprises infrared radiation.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion of the light beam reflected by the eye propagates directly from the eye to the detector.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the light beam propagates to the eye at a slanted angle relative to the eye.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein: the light source is mounted to a temple of an eyeglass worn by the user; and the detector is mounted to the temple adjacent to the light source.
This invention relates to a system for detecting the presence of a substance, such as alcohol, in a user's breath. The system includes a light source and a detector, both mounted to the temple of an eyeglass worn by the user. The light source emits light that interacts with the user's breath, and the detector measures the resulting signal to determine the presence or concentration of the substance. The light source and detector are positioned adjacent to each other on the temple, allowing for compact integration into the eyeglass frame. The system may use optical sensing techniques, such as spectroscopy, to analyze the breath sample. The eyeglass-mounted design enables hands-free operation, making it convenient for users to monitor substance levels in real-time. The invention addresses the need for portable, non-invasive breath analysis devices that can be easily integrated into everyday wearables. The system may include additional components, such as processing circuitry, to analyze the detected signal and provide feedback to the user. The compact and integrated design ensures minimal interference with the user's vision while maintaining accurate detection capabilities.
12. A method of tracking a gaze of an eye of a user, the method comprising: recording a first video image of the eye using a camera at a first frame rate, the first video image showing movement of a pupil of the eye; determining a starting gaze of the eye based on the first video image of the eye, the starting gaze characterized by coordinates of a center of the pupil relative to a pre-calibrated origin; in response to determining the starting gaze of the eye: propagating a light beam directly from a light source onto the eye; detecting a first speckle pattern formed at a detector by a portion of the light beam reflected by the eye, the first speckle pattern being detected at a second frame rate greater than the first frame rate; and tracking movement of the gaze of the eye relative to the starting gaze of the eye by tracking the first speckle pattern from frame to frame; determining that the eye has blinked; determining a new starting gaze of the eye by: recording a second video image of the eye using the camera; and determining the new starting gaze of the eye based on the second video image of the eye; and tracking movement of the gaze of the eye relative to the new starting gaze of the eye by: detecting a second speckle pattern formed at the detector at the second frame rate; and tracking the second speckle pattern from frame to frame.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the portion of the light beam reflected by the eye is diffusely reflected or specular reflected by the eye.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein tracking the first speckle pattern is performed using an optical flow algorithm.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the optical flow algorithm comprises a phase correlation algorithm.
This invention relates to optical flow estimation techniques used in computer vision and image processing, particularly for analyzing motion between frames in video sequences. The problem addressed is improving the accuracy and efficiency of optical flow computation, which is essential for applications like object tracking, video stabilization, and autonomous navigation. The method involves using an optical flow algorithm to estimate motion between consecutive frames. The algorithm processes input frames to determine the displacement of pixels or regions between frames, enabling motion tracking. A key aspect is the use of a phase correlation algorithm, which leverages Fourier transform properties to compute phase differences between frames. This approach is robust to noise and illumination changes, providing reliable motion estimation even in challenging conditions. The phase correlation algorithm works by transforming the frames into the frequency domain, computing the cross-power spectrum, and then applying an inverse Fourier transform to obtain a phase correlation surface. Peaks in this surface indicate the dominant motion between frames. This method is computationally efficient and effective for large displacements, making it suitable for real-time applications. The invention also includes preprocessing steps to enhance the input frames, such as noise reduction and contrast adjustment, to improve the accuracy of the optical flow estimation. The output of the algorithm can be used for various applications, including motion compensation, object detection, and scene reconstruction. The use of phase correlation ensures high precision in motion tracking while maintaining computational efficiency.
16. The method of claim 12 wherein the first frame rate is less than about 10 frames per second, and the second frame rate is greater than about 50 frames per second and less than about 15,000 frames per second.
17. A method of tracking movement of an eye gaze of a user, the method comprising: recording a video image of an eye of the user using a camera, the video image showing movement of a pupil of the eye; determining a starting eye gaze based on the video image of the eye, the starting eye gaze characterized by coordinates of a center of the pupil relative to a pre-calibrated origin; in response to determining the starting eye gaze: illuminating an eye with coherent light at a slanted angle relative to the eye; propagating a portion of the coherent light scattered by the eye from the eye to an image sensor; detecting a speckle pattern formed on the image sensor by the portion of the coherent light scattered by the eye, the speckle pattern being detected at a predetermined frame rate; and tracking movement of the eye gaze relative to the staring eye gaze by tracking the speckle pattern from frame to frame; determining that the eye has blinked; determining a new starting eye gaze by: recording a second video image of the eye using the camera; and determining the new starting eye gaze based on the second video image of the eye; and tracking movement of the eye gaze relative to the new starting eye gaze by: detecting a second speckle pattern formed at image sensor; and tracking the second speckle pattern from frame to frame.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the coherent light reflected by the eye propagates directly from the eye to the image sensor.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein: the coherent light is generated by a light source mounted on a temple of an eyeglass worn by the user; and the image sensor is mounted on the temple adjacent to the light source.
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March 16, 2021
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